Using battery trickle charger over winter

[Ewazix]

If you had a long enough extension lead this method could also let you drive to the local shops without disconnecting the charger
Regards

I used to forget mine was plugged in! and on a few occasions I have driven out of the garage and ripped the cables apart but luckily each time I managed to fix the connections without too much of an issue.

+1 on crashing noises when leaving the bat-cave

I now hang a red cloth on the drivers door mirror as a reminder when the ctek is fitted

[Oakleyextreme]

If you had a long enough extension lead this method could also let you drive to the local shops without disconnecting the charger
Regards

I used to forget mine was plugged in! and on a few occasions I have driven out of the garage and ripped the cables apart but luckily each time I managed to fix the connections without too much of an issue.

Hope you have a circuit breaker

[LeeZ4MR]

If you had a long enough extension lead this method could also let you drive to the local shops without disconnecting the charger
Regards

I used to forget mine was plugged in! and on a few occasions I have driven out of the garage and ripped the cables apart but luckily each time I managed to fix the connections without too much of an issue.

+1 on crashing noises when leaving the bat-cave

I now hang a red cloth on the drivers door mirror as a reminder when the ctek is fitted

Yes that is a good idea

[LeeZ4MR]

If you had a long enough extension lead this method could also let you drive to the local shops without disconnecting the charger
Regards

I used to forget mine was plugged in! and on a few occasions I have driven out of the garage and ripped the cables apart but luckily each time I managed to fix the connections without too much of an issue.

Hope you have a circuit breaker

Good advice

[paddy wright]

I trickle charge to the under bonnet points but feed the extension flex (with single outlet ) into engine bay near the wipers so i can close the bonnet properly without it trapping
I don't like the idea of a crushed or trapped lead leading to a possible 240v car although it is plugged into circuit breaker as well

+1 this is the best solution in my eyes.

[jan_tekin]

My CTEC is stuck on my garage wall, brought an extension cable for it so it connects to the battery in the boot and I close it properly to its all alarmed.

[markeg]

Same as Taz, CTEK charger in boot connected directly to battery, mains cable running out under boot lid.

Car is garaged and locked but with the boot lid down but not latched - I don't think the alarm activates until both doors and the boot are shut/latched

I do this, but i set the boot as "latched", i.e. lock set, whilst still open, but then shut the boot lid without latching it. System thinks the boot is locked shut, but is only locked. No compression of the cable at all.

BTW, I also put a dehumidifier in the boot and main cabin - non electrical ones - to soak up any moisture. An easy home-made one is to use some cat litter and old socks (pour the cat litter into one sock, then place into the other sock). Replace the cat litter every couple of weeks, or just dry it out on a radiator for a couple of hours.

[ronk]

Mines in the garage and unlocked - the charger is connected to the posts under the bonnet which is left cracked open.
I use a cheapo golf cart type charger and it cycles the battery.

[Ewazix]

BTW, I also put a dehumidifier in the boot and main cabin - non electrical ones - to soak up any moisture. An easy home-made one is to use some cat litter and old socks (pour the cat litter into one sock, then place into the other sock). Replace the cat litter every couple of weeks, or just dry it out on a radiator for a couple of hours.

Old sock filled with cat litter drying on the radiator, ah the glamour of premium German sports car ownership

[Baza]

I use a CTEC over the winter and connect direct to the battery terminals in the boot. I leave a rear quarter light fractionally open and run the cable in through that and then down into the boot, Works for me I have left the car both locked and unlocked it doesn't seem to make any difference.

[Number5]

Has anybody used a standard battery charger and just put it on a timer pkug to charge for 1hr a day ?
Would that cause any issues ?

[ronk]

......connect direct to the battery terminals in the boot....,

Is there any reason why you don't use the pegs under the bonnet?

[Baza]

No not really the mains supply is nearer to the boot thats all

[Ewazix]

Has anybody used a standard battery charger and just put it on a timer pkug to charge for 1hr a day ?
Would that cause any issues ?

That would probably be OK at a low rate but not at full whack which could result in plate damage. The latest ctek smart chargers 'read' the charge state and adjust charge rates, apparently a normal charge-up will only take a battery to 80% or so although it will indicate 100%. You can try it, when you leave a freshly charged battery for a few hours the charge dissipates away from the plates in to the liquid/gel and will then accept more charge giving the impression it has discharged a bit, but this is normal. The ctek reads this and feeds more in as and when. Secondly some ctek use a pulse discharge/charge cycle to help de-sulphur plates effectively restoring them (sulphation is caused by allowing a battery to become discharged).

The battery in my car is now 13 years old and still good, probably as a result of the ctek - but I'm probably tempting fate

[Number5]

Has anybody used a standard battery charger and just put it on a timer pkug to charge for 1hr a day ?
Would that cause any issues ?

That would probably be OK at a low rate but not at full whack which could result in plate damage. The latest ctek smart chargers 'read' the charge state and adjust charge rates, apparently a normal charge-up will only take a battery to 80% or so although it will indicate 100%. You can try it, when you leave a freshly charged battery for a few hours the charge dissipates away from the plates in to the liquid/gel and will then accept more charge giving the impression it has discharged a bit, but this is normal. The ctek reads this and feeds more in as and when. Secondly some ctek use a pulse discharge/charge cycle to help de-sulphur plates effectively restoring them (sulphation is caused by allowing a battery to become discharged).

The battery in my car is now 13 years old and still good, probably as a result of the ctek - but I'm probably tempting fate

Cheers. my charger reads it as it has a 4 stage LEd indicator, it also says it trickles once fully charged, but its not a CTEC.